Telus Bargaining Committee Nomination Results and Election Details - Appendix A Craft

Hello members,

The nomination process for the Telus Bargaining Committee is now complete. We are pleased to report that 5 members have put their names forward to serve on your committee from Appendix A Craft. 

A message from each candidate is included with this email for your review. 

Please take a few moments to read this message carefully, it contains all the key details about the upcoming election and how you can participate. 

Voting Details 

You will receive your ballot and voting instructions by February 9, 2026. 

Each member will receive a unique Elector ID and password to access the online voting system. 

Please read the ballot email carefully, as it will include step-by-step voting instructions. 

Polling Times: 

• Opens: Monday, February  9 at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) 

• Closes: Wednesday, February 11 at 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) 

The voting window spans several days to accommodate all time zones and shift schedules. You can vote from anywhere, as long as you have access to your voting email. 

Ballot Information 

• Your ballot will list all candidates you are eligible to vote for. 

• You must vote for a candidate or choose to abstain. 

• Results will be published shortly after the polls close. 

Committee Representation 

To ensure fair representation, the top candidates will be selected from within each Appendix outlined below: 

• 1 Craft member from Appendix A  

• 1 Clerical member from Appendix A or C  

• 1 Craft or Clerical member from Appendix B  

This structure reflects the composition of our membership while ensuring we bring the strongest possible team forward. The President also retains the right to appoint a member-at-large if needed to support the process. 

Need Help Voting? 

If you have trouble voting or do not receive your ballot, please contact the Union Office: 



Phone: 604-437-8601 

Email: contact@usw1944.ca  

On Monday February 9th, please take a few minutes to vote. The members you elect will represent you in negotiating your next collective agreement with your employer. 

In solidarity, 

Ross Brown 

Secretary Treasurer 

Candidate Biographies for the Bargaining Committee Election 

Below are the nominees for the Appendix A Craft position on the upcoming Telus Bargaining Committee, each accompanied by a brief personal statement. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. 

Richard Blais

My name is Richard Blais. I am a long-tenured union activist who has spent years enforcing our contract and confronting Telus when it violates our rights. Among other roles I serve as a Shop Steward, Regional Executive Officer, and Co-Chair to our Health and Safety Committee, actively representing members on our shop floor upholding their contract, and making an impact on our workplace health and safety nationally.

I am the only remaining member of the last bargaining committee who still works on the shop floor at Telus. I am not an employee of our Union. I live the reality of our contract every day. That reality shapes how I fight for our membership.

I completed the United Steelworkers Leadership Scholarship Program in 2019, strengthening my skills in organizing, education, and contract enforcement. I joined the National Executive board in 2020 and was elected again in 2021 and 2024. I engaged in bargaining from 2021 to 2023. Since the last round, I turned down the VSP offer and stayed in constant preparation, filing grievances, backing members, and building member power for this round of negotiations.

I don’t believe in soft bargaining. I believe in strong language, enforceable protections, and contract language that our members can count on when it matters most. Continuity matters. Experience matters. Memory matters. Employers count on us forgetting. I don’t.



I will fight for a contract that protects our jobs, our safety, our wages, and our dignity. Most of all I will always put our membership first.

Kevin Giles

I have been with TELUS for 11 years and bring both experience and perspective to my nomination for the Bargaining Committee. Over my tenure, I have worked through three collective bargaining agreements, giving me a solid understanding of the bargaining process, its challenges, and the importance of strong, informed representation for our members.

My role at TELUS is as an Install and Repair Technician, giving me direct insight into the day-to-day realities, safety considerations, and operational pressures faced by frontline employees. This hands-on experience allows me to understand the practical impacts that bargaining decisions have on members working in the field.

I am an active member of the Safety Committee, where I advocate for safe work practices and practical solutions that protect workers while supporting operational efficiency.

I currently serve as a Shop Steward, representing members, addressing workplace concerns, and helping ensure our collective agreement is applied fairly and consistently. This role has strengthened my communication, problem-solving, and advocacy skills, all of which I believe are critical at the bargaining table.

Beyond the workplace, I am the captain of my hockey team, a role that has further developed my leadership, teamwork, and accountability. I also bring previous management experience from another employer, allowing me to understand both employee and employer perspectives.

I am committed, prepared, and motivated to represent members effectively and contribute meaningfully to achieving a fair and strong collective agreement.

Neil Marshall

I am running to represent USW Local 1944 members as the Craft Representative on the Bargaining Committee as we enter a critical round of negotiations with TELUS. After years of concessions that have disproportionately impacted craft workers, working conditions are deteriorating and concessions must stop.

I have been a TELUS Service Technician since 2014 in the Eastern Fraser Valley. I’ve seen workloads rise while skilled technicians leave under unsustainable pressure. I understand the work, the realities on the ground, and the consequences of weak contract language.

I have been actively involved in our union since day one. In Unit 32, I have served as a Counsellor, Vice Chair, and Chair. During the 2023 bargaining round, I was an Engagement Officer, organizing members, supporting rallies, and preparing for potential labour action. I was later elected as a Regional Executive Officer, served nationally as a Trustee, and worked as a Local Union Representative, giving me a clear understanding of where our agreement fails technicians.

I am a graduate of the United Steelworkers Leadership Development Program, where I received extensive bargaining training from USW International. I also bring direct bargaining experience from the Securitas committee, where we secured a strong first collective agreement, including significant wage increases, job protection, and limits on contracting out.

Technicians need a representative who understands the work, refuses concessions, and is prepared to fight. I’m running to be that voice and to win back the respect we deserve.

Wayne Noble

Born and raised in Coquitlam. 

Avid outdoorsman. A passion for fly fishing our beautiful BC rivers and lakes. Occasionally these same trips include a hunting camp experience.  

Exploring British Columbia is the ultimate experience, taking us to breathtaking places.  

Have work in the communications industry since 1990 and believe in fairness and integrity for all workers.  

Wayne Noble